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Original poster

Trendy, good quality coat for a daughter starting secondary school, budge £100

37 replies

timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 19:45

Firstly, just to say I've never spent £100 on a school coat for a child before, and wouldn't be but for this specific set of circumstances.

Said circumstances being I gave DD (11) a coat of mine that I outgrew (ahem) it was £100 when I bought it and unfortunately she left it in a well known fast food chain. I called said fast food chain who found it and promised to keep it safe, but a member of staff then disposed of it before we could collect it next day.

Said fast food chain will now replace the coat up to the value of £100 so I need to do this asap and give them the receipt.

DD starts secondary in September, I know this isnt a great time of year to be buying a coat but since we have this unusual budget and it must be spent on a decent coat can anyone recommend a decent brand that will also be cool enough for secondary.

I've always bought boden patterend coats in the past but obvs this is a transition stage for her and I don't want to buy something expensive now that she won't want to be see in come autumn.

Anyone with secondary age kids have any suggestions?

OP posts:
Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 19:47

Like, I would have gone for a nice Jack Wolfskin or North Face coat and could prob get decent in the sale at this time of year, but I',m mumsy and have no idea what 11 year olds like.

OP posts:
Redcrayons · 17/04/2019 19:50

Very very few DCs wear coats round here. My own take rain jackets that fold up into their bags as they don't have anywhere to keep coats during the day and they don't want to carry them round.
I have boys who aren't too concerned about fashion though so I can't recommend anything.

shoofly · 17/04/2019 19:52

Hah was just about to say, don't waste your money, she'll not wear it anyway Grin
Ask her? I'd be trying to choose a school appropriate colour (ours specifies navy or black) & something she'll wear at weekends, if she refuses to wear it to school

QueenofCBA · 17/04/2019 19:54

Check the secondary school’s uniform policy before you do anything.
Coats get lost at secondary school, especially in Year 7. Why don’t you buy a nice one for yourself and get dd a cheaper one later on?

BrillyPribble · 17/04/2019 19:55

Agree with redcrayons, at our secondary school there's nowhere to keep coats so the kids only wear them if there's torrential rain or a snowstorm and sometimes not even then. My DD has a pacamac type fold up thing that stashes in her bag.
So don't focus on it being a school coat. Could you get a coat for you?

Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 19:55

Thank you. Actually it's useful to know a coat may be redundant - we live opposite the school so not a lot of need for a thick coat for walking to school.

Since it was a ladies coat (size 8) I bought it's tempting to replace it with a ladies coat for me and then buy her a new one, the only problem being I already did that (size 14 Blush) so don't now need a replacement ladies coat.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 17/04/2019 19:56

Just get a coat for yourself , none of the secondary school girls around here wear coats and it would be a waste . If she thinks she needs a school coat get her a cheap one .

DontFundHate · 17/04/2019 19:56

They disposed of your coat, they really shouldn't be dictating how you spend your money!

Buy expensive coat, show receipt, get the money, return coat, buy more reasonable price coat plus other bits that your daughter needs.

furrytoebean · 17/04/2019 19:58

Could you buy a north face one or jack wolfskin something that will retain its resale value and then sell it?

Chilledout11 · 17/04/2019 19:58

Just get yourself a coat even if you have one. Get another colour. 100 is too much for a school coat that your daughter will likely leave behind again.

WoodenToyKitchen · 17/04/2019 20:00

Trespass on Amazon are in lots of colours, and they're actually warm and waterproof, plus well below budget.

Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:00

"Buy expensive coat, show receipt, get the money, return coat, buy more reasonable price coat plus other bits that your daughter needs."

I've thought about this but they want the receipt for their records...but then if the coat is faulty they have the receipt Hmm

I can only think maybe if I bought a coat online I could do this, maybe from Next, give them the delivery note as proof of purchase, return it using my store card.

It's a bloody headahce, I almost would have preferred a years supply of unnamed famous beef burgers than arseing about with this.

OP posts:
TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 17/04/2019 20:01

The secondary kids near me do wear coats in the winter.

FWIW l spent 10 years as a casual wear designer including jackets.

The best high street retailer for jackets imo is Superdry. Their jackets are fairly properly functional unlike other popular teen brands like Hollister etc. They have proper storm cuffs and internal zips for wind proofing.

But any functional technical jacket is good. The lines of H and M or New Look don’t last.

Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:01

"Chilledout11 Wed 17-Apr-19 19:58:41
Just get yourself a coat even if you have one. Get another colour. 100 is too much for a school coat that your daughter will likely leave behind again."

Yep. I'm already annoyed that she left it in the first place.

OP posts:
Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:03

"The best high street retailer for jackets imo is Superdry. Their jackets are fairly properly functional unlike other popular teen brands like Hollister etc. They have proper storm cuffs and internal zips for wind proofing."

Thank you, that's useful to know. I myself had a superdry coat for horseriding and it was great against the wind but have about 4 milion zips that all dropped off. Put me off a bit. but was a few years ago now so I assume they might have improved on that.

OP posts:
TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 17/04/2019 20:05

Aah never thought about zips falling off! They are over keen on zips though. But the fabrics are good. Not just cheap nylon.

Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:06

Thanks emoji, agreed, the fabric was great quality. Not sure if they've improved the zip design, I was worried if I went for Superdry it's the kind of thing Mums wear and DD would get laughed at at high school over.

OP posts:
WhatWillGeorgeDo · 17/04/2019 20:08

Buy in-store, get gift receipt and normal receipt. Give annoying well known burger chain full receipt, then return item using gift receipt. Does mean you’ll probably be restricted to vouchers/exchange (but for different items) but if you get it at shop you normally buy bits from or somewhere like M&S or Debenhams you would hopefully be able to spend it on something needed and even buy the coat elsewhere...

Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:10

I might order this on my store card, take in the receipt and decide whether to keep it or return it later.

OP posts:
Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:12

"Buy in-store, get gift receipt and normal receipt"

Totally forgot about gift receipt! Thanks. I think that Next prob best option whatever I do as I don't actually have a spare £100 to shell out and then get refunded right now...

OP posts:
Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 20:13

Also if I can get it refunded to my Next account that will actually pay for the new coat I bought recently as that's still on my Next account unpaid for.

I'll get DD something cheaper that we won't worry about if (when) she loses...

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 17/04/2019 20:32

My DD started high school last year, travels by bus, does wear a coat, but I got hers in Sainsbury’s!

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 17/04/2019 20:50

My dd 12 and all her peers are mad for Superdry

Original poster
timeisonmycider · 17/04/2019 21:09

Thanks emoji, superdry seem to have some decent looking coats without all the zip faff I might get one of them and just let her have it.

OP posts:
FluffySocks123 · 17/04/2019 21:14

I swear by superdry
Love their stuff - had it when I was at school and am still wearing their coats and I'm nearly 30 Blush